Shumen tourist info and hotels

Shumen is a nice, not too large city (around 90 000 inhabitants), situated in the north-eastern part of Bulgaria.
The town was established in the early Middle Ages as a fortress and a settlement next to it, in the Hissarlak area. By the end of second Bulgarian Kingdom it received its current name, also spelled Shoumen. There are interesting monuments of architecture, such as The Tower of the Old Clock, 1740, Tamboul Mosque (the largest one on the Balkan peninsula) and Kourshoum Cheshma, 1744.
Shoumen and the lands surrounding it, include some unique monuments of culture, preserved from ancient times to the present. Nearby are the first Bulgarian capitals of Pliska and Veliki Preslav (Great Preslav), as well as the village of Madara - the Bulgarian Troy, with the unique Madara Horsemen relief.
The fortress of Shumen is situated on 3 kilometers distance from its center. The history of the fortress could be traced back with the special exposition in the museum by the fortress. It is very well saved and the most important historical and archeological object visited from town’s guests.

In accordance with the archaeologists it is built on four platforms from the earl to the late antiquity, and later in the Middle Ages it has been expanded.
During the invasions of the Avarians and Slavs, the fortress has been destroyed, but later the Bulgarian khan Omurtag rebuilds it.

The monument “Founders of The Bulgarian State” is opened on 28.11.1981y. in honor of the 1300 years foundation of the Bulgarian country,  and represents most important moments from the history of the first Bulgarian realm(khan Asparuh - Simeon).

The complex composition of eight solid concrete segments, built under different angels shapes two half-halls, where are playing shadows, half-shadows, contrast and harmony. The mosaics are made in Byzantine’s technique, from natural stones.
The lion standing over the town could be seen in radius of 30km., and it is a symbol of Bulgarian spirit.
The monument astonish with its grandeur and huge dimensions.